Federal Government Grants

Federal government grants are a contribution of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back. The federal government is one of the largest sources of grants in the United States. Federal grants are available for economic development, housing, jobs, education, college tuition, and other purposes that serve the public interest.

Federal government grant money is awarded by specific government agencies (such as Department of Education) to organizations and individuals.

Federal Government Grant Programs

Federal government grants are available through 1,000 different grant programs managed by 26 government agencies. Government grants can range from a few thousand to $100 million. Some federal government grants are given directly to the States, who then re-grant this money to local organizations.

Federal government grants are usually awarded to non-profits, schools, public housing, and large for-profit businesses. However, there are grants to individuals in the form of college tuition grants, research grants, and artistic endeavors. Small businesses are eligible to apply for small business innovation research (SBIR) grants. SBIR grant opportunities are available through many federal agencies such as: National Institutes for Health and National Science Foundation.

Portal for Federal Grants: Grants.gov

Every federal grant is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CDFA). However, the document, which is hundreds of pages long, does not link to specific grant opportunities. The most central site for federal grant opportunities is Grants.gov. The site can be search by federal agency, opportunity name, or through key words.

The Grants.gov site both lists federal opportunities and also is where applications are downloaded and later submitted. Federal grant assistance announcements tend to be time limited. Often the time to apply is less than eight weeks from the announcement. Therefore, frequent searches and staying current on potential grant money is crucial.

How to Apply for Federal Government Grants

To apply, an applicant must first register with Grants.gov. Registration is a multi-step process that can take as long as two weeks. The federal government recommends that grant seekers register in advance. Registration requires knowing an organization’s Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS), which is an important identification number. Individuals may register for Grants.gov and have a slightly different process. Individual registration can only be used for grants for individuals, not for organizations.

Completing a grant application typically requires technical expertise, although Grant.gov has free technical assistance by telephone and/or e-mail for each opportunity. The technical assistance contact information is listed on Grants.gov and on the specific funding opportunity announcement (FOA) or request for proposals (RFP).